Airplane clock-setting mechanism



March 13, 1934. o. F. `DECK AIRPLANE CLOCK\"`SETTING MECHANISM FiledJune 7. 1932 NvENToR h 'ec ATTPORNEY CTI Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNlTESTATES PATENT OFFICE Otto F. Deck, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to A.Wittnauer Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication June '7, 1932, Serial No. 615,856

15 Claims.

ments, especially those used on instrument boards or motor vehicles,airplanes and the like, it has been found that where the instrumentcontains a vertical Winding stem there is diiliculty in reaching thestem and in winding the instrument. Therefore, in instruments used forthis purpose,

it has been heretofore necessary slightly to modify the mechanism of theinstrument itself so that it will permit of a horizontal winding orsetting. The main object of the present invention is to provide a casefor holding an instrument containing the usual and conventional Verticalwinding means, whereby the change from a vertical to a horizontal driveon the winding stem is accomplished without changing the mechanism ofthe watch or other instrument.

In the illustrative embodiment shown herein, an aviation clock is shownhaving the usual vertical winding and setting means. However, I wish itto be distinctly understood that this embodiment is shown for purposesof illustration only. It will be noted from the description of thepresent invention that the cases of the present invention are simple inconstruction, easy and economical to fabricate and assemble, andadmirably adapted to perform their intended functions. Other objects andadvantages of the devices of the present invention will, in part, bepointed out in detail hereinafter and will, in part, be obvious to thoseskilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

Referring to the drawing illustrating the present invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the watch casing assembled.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the horizontal winding mechanism in awinding position, and

Fig. 3 is a like View in a setting position.

Fig. 4 is a plan View, partly in section of the unassembled casing.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the horizontal winding stem.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views.

Referring more in detail to the illustrative embodiments of the presentinvention, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional clockadapted for attachment to the instrument board of an airplane,automobile or like vehicle. The

conventional winding stem is replaced by a gear l adapted to operate thewinding stem 12 in such manner that the gear l1 will permit the stem 12to be depressed for setting the hands of the instrument, but willcontinue operating the stem 12 either in a raised or depressed position.

A case 13, adapted to hold the instrument 10, is provided with anauziliary rounded tubular portion 14, preferably of the same material asthe case i3, both preferably of a heavy dust-proof, rustless material,such as brass. rlhe portion 14 extends from the bottom of the case 13 upto a point slightly below the upper rim thereof. A groove 15 connectsthe case 13 with a central bore 16 running through the middle of theportion 14. Between the bore 16 and case 13 is a slot 17 eX- tendingparallel with the bore 16 approximately two-thirds oi the way throughthe portion 14. The portion i-i is also provided with holes 18 forscrewing the various parts together. Another slot 19 extends through theside of the case 13 and half way through the portion 14, communicatingwith the central bore 16 of the portion 14. Screwed into this slot 19 isa spring member 20 resiliently extending through the slot 19 into thebore 16.

The clock 10 is placed into the case 13 in such manner that the gear 11will fit into the slot 17 and the depressible stem 12 will extend intothe bore 16. A plate 21 is adapted to fit into and cover the portion 14.1t contains a slot 22 through which the gear 11 extends, a hole 23communicating with the central bore 16 and holes 24 communicating withthe holes 18 of the portion 14. llhe plate 21 is also flattened on oneside to permit its fitting past the clock 10. In this position the gear11 extends slightly beyond the surface of the plate 2l.

1 now provide a winding stem or rod 25 adapted to fit into the bore 16.The stem 25 contains a thick portion 26 extending for about one-third oiits length and tapering as at 27, the tapered portion meeting the narrowportion 28 extending for the other two-thirds ci its length. The stem 25is placed into the groove 16 in such manner that the thicker portion isat the back of the auxiliary portion 14 and the narrow portion eX- tendsthrough the bore 16 and hole 23 of the plate 21. The thicker portion ofthe stem 25 contains a groove 29 on the end thereof for holding a screwdriver or like instrument. It is also provided with two grooves 30 and.31 running around the thicker portion, the groove 29 beingsubstantially in the central part of the thicker portion, and the groove39 being midway between the groove 29' and the end of the rod 25. Thenarrow portion of the stem 25 contains a threaded portion 32 at thenarrow end thereof, a round portion 33, and a square portion 34 at thebase of the tapered portion 27.

When the stem 25 is placed into the groove 16, the spring willextendinto the groove 30 and hold it in place, preventing it from falling out.A gear 34 having a square hole 35 is placed over the stem in such mannerthat the teeth of the gear will enmesh with the teeth of the gear l1,and the hole will slide over the square portion 24 of the stem 25.

To hold the various parts of the apparatus in place I now provide amember 36 substantially similar to the member 14 except that it isfiattened at one side, such as at 37, to permit a clear sight of theclock dial. The member 36 contains a hole 38, a central depressedportion 39, an intermediate depressed portion and an outer rim 41.-These portions are stepped upwardly `from the center, the centraldepressed portion surrounding the hole 33, being the furthestdepressed-the intermediate depressed portion surrounding the centraldepressed portion being only partly depressed, and the outer rimextending of vthe clock 10 to rotate and permit them to be y presentinvention to be groove 30 being in contact depressed position at thebase knob 43 is snapped above'the other two portions. The centraldepressed portion 39 is grooved to communicate with the flat portion 37.The member 36 is placed over the previously described parts, thestein-25 extending through the hole 38. The member 36 also containsholes 42 communicating with holes 18 and 24. A series of screws are nowplaced through holes 42, 24 and 13, holding the inner mechanismtogether.

A knurled knob 43 is placed through the hole 38 in the member 36 andscrewed onto the threadedportion 32 of the stem or rod 25.

This completes the description of the clocl: case ofthe presentinvention and although its operation can be clearly ascertained fromsuch description a brief rsum herewith follows:

Assuming the various parts of the case of the assembled as previouslydescribed, and assuming that the stem 25 is in the position shown inFig. l of the drawing, the with the spring 20 10 being in an unof thetapered A, portion l2'7 vof the stem 25, the rotation of the -knob 43willnow cause the stem 25 to turn the -gear 34, gear 11 and to wind theclock 10.

lWhen it is desired to set the hands of the clock 10, the knob 43 ispulled outwardly until the groove 31 on the stem 25 snaps into positionvwith the spring 20. In marfing forward, the tapered portion of the stem25 will depress the stem 12, causing the hands of the clock 10 to comeinto operative contact with the stem 12. Rotation of the knob 43 Willnow cause the hands andthe-stem 12 of the clock set by the operator.After the watch is set, the back into a position where the groove 30returns into contact with the spring :20 which. the normal runningposition of the -fwatch.

This co etes the description of the mode of assein and-mode of operationof the clock ie present invention. It will be seen `from suchdescriptionthat the case of the presf ent invention isfsimple in construction, easyand economical vto fabricate and assemble, and ad- -mirably adapted toperform its intended functions.

yIt will bernoted that the member36 tightly -able with the vertical stemof the clock for vertically reciprocating' the same into setting andwinding` positions, -means for horizontally reciprocating said firstnamed means, and means associated with said second named means forrotating the stem when the latter is in its setting or windingpositions.

2. Settingandwindingmeans for a clockhaving a vertical stem, comprising,a cam,-cooperable with the vertical stem of theclock for verticallyreciprocating the-same into setting and winding positions, means forhorizontally recip.

rocating said cam, and means associated with said first named means forrotating the stem when the latter is -in its setting or windingpositions.

Setting and winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a conical carri, ccoperable with the vertical stem of theclock for vertically reciprocating the same into setting and windingpositions, means for horizontally reciprocating said cam and meansassociated with said first named means for rotating the stem when thelatter is in its setting or Winding positions.

4. Setting and winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, means, cooperable with the vertical stem of the clock forvertically reciprocating the same into settingand winding positions,means for horizontally reciprocating said first named means, and a gear`train associated with said second named means for rotating the stemwhen the latter is in its setting or winding positions.

5. Setting and winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a cam, cooperable With the vertical stem of the clock forvercooperable with the vertical stem of the clock forv verticallyreciprocating the same into setting and winding positions, means Iforhorizontally reciprocating said cam and a gear train associated withsaid rst named means for rotatingthe stem when the latter isl in itssetting or winding positions.

7. Setting and winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a cam, cooperable Withthe Vertical stem of the clock forvertically reciorocating the same into setting and winding positions,means for horizontally reciproeating said cam, means cooperable withsaidcam for retaining the same in its adjusted positions, and meansassociated with said I'lrst` named means for rotatinglthe stem when thelatter isin its setting or rwinding positions.

8. Setting and winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a cam, cooperable with the vertical stem of the clock forVertically reciprocating the same into setting and' Winding positions,means cooperable With said cam for horizontally reciprocating the same,friction means cooperable with said cam for retaining said cam in itsadjusted positions, and means associated with said rst named means forrotating the stem when the latter is in its setting or Windingpositions.

9. Setting and winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a cam, cooperable with the Vertical stem of the clock forvertically reciprocating the same into setting and winding positions,means for horizontally reciprocating said cam, spring means cooperablewith said cani for retaining the same in its adjusted positions, andmeans associated with said rst named means for rotating the stem Whenthe latter is in its setting or Winding positions.

10. Setting and Winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a conical cani, cooperable with the vertical stem of theclock for vertically reciprocating the same into setting and 'windingpositions, means for horizontally reciprocating said cam, meanscooperable with said cam for retaining the same in its adjustedpositions, and means associated with said iirst named means for rotatingthe stem when the latter is in its setting or winding positions.

11. Setting and winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a cam, cooperable With the vertical stern of the clock forvertically reciprocating the same into setting and winding positions,means for horizontally reciprocating said cam, means cooperable withsaid cam for retaining the same in its adjusted positions, and a geartrain associated with said rst named means for rotating the stem whenthe latter is in its setting or winding positions.

12. Setting and Winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a conical cam, oooperable with the vertical stem of theclock for vertically reciprocating the same into setting and windingpositions, means for horizontally reciprocating said cam, meanscooperable with said cam for retaining the same in its adjustedpositions, and a gear train associated with said first named means forrotating the stem when the latter is in its setting or Windingpositions.

13. Setting and Winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a Cain, coopera-ble with the vertical stem of the clock forvertically reciprocating the same into setting and winding positions,means for horizontally reciprocating said cam, friction means cooperableWith said cam for retaining the same in its adjusted positions, andmeans associated with said first nani-ed means for rotating the stemwhen the latter is in its setting or winding positions.

14. Setting and winding means for a clock having a vertical stem,comprising, a conical cam, cooperable with the Vertical stem of theclock for vertically reciprocating the same into setting and windingpositions, means for horizontally reciprocating said cam, friction meanscooperable with said cam for retaining the same in its adjustedpositions, and means associated With said first named means for rotatingthe stem when the latter is in its setting or Winding positions.

l5. Setting and Winding means for a clock having a Vertical stein,comprising, a cam, cooperable with the Vertical stem of the clock forvertically reciprocating the same into setting and Winding positions,means for horizontally reciprocating said cam, friction means cooperablewith said cam for retaining the same in its adjusted positions, and agear train associated with said rst named means for rotating the stemwhen the latter is in its setting or Winding positions.

OTTO F. DECK.

